London mayor stops Battersea redevelopment

08-Feb-10by Annie Byrne

Mayor Boris Johnson says the £4bn redevelopment plans for Battersea power station, into a residence, hotel, event complex and 2000-seat conference centre, do not currently conform with London Plan policies.The Mayor has said he "generally supported" the plans but was concerned to a lack of affordable housing, transport and the possible impact of new retail units on the surrounding area. His preliminary report suggests possible solutions, recommended by his planning offices, to make the plans approved. "This key part of the capital is the biggest development opportunity remaining in London and the power station is one of London’s much loved historic landmarks. It is vital that we get the redevelopment of this site right,” says Johnson. "I am encouraged by what I have seen so far and confident that the developer, in partnership with Wandsworth Council, can work up these proposals into a high quality masterplan.” An informal proposal for the redevelopment was submitted to Wandsworth Council by the project manager, Treasury Holdings, in August and has since passed through the first stage of the Greater London Authority planning process. The plans involve restoring the Grade II listed structure into office and event space and a 2,000-seat conference centre with apartments on the roof.

As the UK has voted to leave the European Union with a 52 per cent majority result, EN has spoken to members of the exhibition and events industry, to gauge their initial reactions on the future of the UK and their businesses.